Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

For a moment, everyone stood frozen. The only sound was Verin's pained whimpering as he clutched the bloody side of his head where his ear had been.

Lady Renara was the first to recover. She stepped forward into the clearing, her composed demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around her.

"The duel is concluded," she announced, her voice carrying across the garden. "Lord Grim van Ambrose is the victor."

Lord Terras whirled toward her, his face contorted with rage. "This wasn't a duel! It was attempted murder!"

"Your son refused to yield when given the opportunity," Lady Renara replied coolly. "The terms were clear."

Before Terras could respond, the elderly man moved. One moment he was standing at the edge of the clearing, the next he was beside Grim. The movement was so swift that many observers didn't see him cross the intervening space. He was just a blur of motion too fast to track.

He extended his hand toward Grim. "My sword," he said simply.

Grim handed it over, still staring at the thin line of blood on the man's cheek. "I didn't mean to... "

"You handled it well," the elderly man cut him off, examining the blade briefly before sheathing it. "The Sundering Slash is difficult to control at first. You compressed the energy properly, but your aim needs work."

He wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb, seeming unbothered by the wound. "It seems Caius's blood runs true in your veins. Not bad for a first attempt in combat."

Grim studied the man's face, searching for any family resemblance. "You knew my great-grandfather."